Big week for WRDA, transport bills — Remembering Jim Oberstar

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BUSY TRANSPORT WEEK ON THE HILL: The Capitol will be abuzz with talk of several major transportation bills this week, with lawmakers aiming to nail down a WRDA conference report and Senate EPW Chairwoman unveiling a long-term transportation bill. There will be plenty more happening in hearing rooms both north and south of the Capitol building: Finance has a Tuesday hearing on “new routes” for highway and transit financing (http://1.usa.gov/1u12jBW); the next day, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx testifies on reauthorization at a Senate Commerce hearing (http://1.usa.gov/1igyaFj) and the House Appropriations THUD panel marks up its DOT spending bill (stay tuned here: http://1.usa.gov/1q5BWLJ).

TRANSPORTATION LOSES A TITAN — Jim Oberstar, 1934-2014: Former House Transportation Chairman Jim Oberstar died in his sleep Friday night, depriving the transportation world of a mentor, policy expert, historian, optimist and much more. Oberstar chaired his beloved Transportation Committee for four years and was elected to 18 terms in Congress. He could go on forever about transportation if you let him — and sometimes he did, but anybody who listened closely came out smarter for it. Just when a 200-year history of the federal government’s role in navigable waters might be boring some in the hearing room, he’d throw in a few lines of French to keep everybody on their toes.

Gas tax champion: The native of Chisholm, Minn., famously clashed with the White House in 2009, when then-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood surprised Oberstar with a visit to say the administration would be opposing the gas tax increase needed to fund his ambitious $450 billion transportation bill — a visit that still lives in transportation policy lore. Oberstar was instrumental in the writing and passage of too many major transportation bills to even attempt to list here. See a timeline of his life via the Duluth News Tribune: http://bit.ly/1mtdrlQ

OUTPOURING OF SYMPATHY: The reactions to Oberstar’s death were quick and many, coming from some of the most powerful people in Washington. President Barack Obama, House T&I Chairman Bill Shuster and ranking member Nick Rahall, former Chairman John Mica and House Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer were just some of the names to memorialize Oberstar in statements. MT reached out to a few more people who were close to the chairman for their thoughts…

Former Rep. Jerry Costello, who served with Oberstar for over two decades in Congress: “Jim Oberstar dedicated his entire adult life to public service and was the go to person in congress on transportation issues. If the Speaker or any member of congress had a question about transportation issues, they immediately turn to Jim. He was a great mentor, friend and over all great person.”

Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who served seven terms with Oberstar in the House: “Jim was by far the smartest person in the country regarding transportation and infrastructure. He was an outstanding legislator...and chairman! Jim and I remained wonderful friends even after I delivered the bad news that we could not support his transportation bill with a gas tax increase. I was so grateful to know and work with Jim.”

And your MT host: Oberstar was always kind to me, and his big smile and booming laugh could brighten the worst of days. I was lucky enough to have some fond final memories of our time together in Las Vegas for a panel on infrastructure — we talked at breakfast about our mutual dislike of raisins in muffins and later marveled at the giant cranes set up for the construction show. In a shared ride to the airport, we swapped vacation plans, talked about how he wished he had more time to catch up on his biking goals and — as was typical for him — I got an abridged history of his work on FAA bills over the decades.

GOOD MONDAY MORNING. Thanks for reading POLITICO’s Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on trains, planes, automobiles and ports, where on this day in 1904, Cy Young threw the first perfect game in modern major league history, leading the Boston Americans to a 3-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics. Please be in touch: asnider@politico.com and @AdamKSnider on Twitter.

OUT TODAY — Transport funding primer: Pew puts out a new analysis of transportation funding, looking at federal, state and local spending and laying it all out with some simple but informative charts. There is also a look at where transportation dollars go in each state. Check it all out at 9 a.m. today: http://bit.ly/1iftMGH

HIGHWAY BILL HEADLINES: There are a lot of them from papers around the country, and none reflect too well on Congress. Here’s the Boston Globe from Sunday: “Inaction in D.C. imperils state highway projects.” http://bit.ly/1fIgxU5

** Today, general aviation employs over 1.2 million Americans. These highly skilled, good-paying jobs allow workers to support their families, participate in their communities, and contribute significantly to the local tax base and schools — while designing and building products that support vital activities such as law enforcement, medical transport, and commerce. www.gama.aero. **

FOXX TALKS TRANSPORTATION: Secretary Foxx went on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” where he addressed the Highway Trust Fund, his recent bus tour, oil-by-rail safety, some broader political questions and more. Read the full transcript (http://politico.pro/1msEged) or watch the video (http://bloom.bg/1hqOV1d).

CAUSE OF LYNCHBURG DERAILMENT UNKNOWN: Cleanup of the CSX derailment in Lynchburg, Va., continued over the weekend, and the NTSB’s top inspector on the scene eliminated several potential causes of the accident. 14 of the 17 cars that jumped the track along the James River were newer CPC-1232 models that are stronger than the DOT-111 cars that are the focus of recent attention. NTSB’s Jim Southworth said that early evidence doesn’t point to anything wrong with the crew’s actions, signaling equipment, the train’s brakes, or other mechanical issues on the train. The area of the accident was inspected with an ultrasound device the day before the crash, Southworth said, but he didn’t offer any details of what was found. CSX said it is “continuing its comprehensive environmental assessment and protection effort” after oil spilled into the river, causing Richmond to switch to a different water supply.

More video of the crash site, via drone: Check out the footage shot by John Cruse, who Kathryn talked to for her recent story from Lynchburg: http://bit.ly/1iZgPG3

IN RELATED NEWS — Three companies submit Bakken data: Three companies have submitted data on Bakken crude oil, including metrics like flash point, vapor pressure and hydrogen sulfide content. ExxonMobil sent 15 samples to DOT, Savage filed 12 and Continental Resources has submitted one sample under Foxx’s “Call to Action” to improve oil-on-rail safety. See more via PHMSA: http://1.usa.gov/1ncnuzs

SENATORS DROP TIFIA BILL: Four Senate Democrats have introduced a bill (http://politico.pro/1fIfW53) to improve how the TIFIA credit program helps areas with transit-oriented development by creating a new, lower $10 million minimum for loans, loan guarantees and lines of credit for TOD projects. Check out a one-page summary of the bill (http://politico.pro/1kLrsvB).

FBI DIRECTOR ADDRESSES MISSING FLIGHT: POLITICO’s own Josh Gerstein passes along this dispatch from Friday: At a press roundtable this afternoon, FBI Director James Comey said his agency has completed its review of computers used by the pilot and co-pilot of MH370. He declined to detail the findings, but said a report on the contents of the computers has been sent to Malaysian authorities.

Comey did say, however, that work did not point to terrorism. “It doesn’t for me raise any concerns that touch my counterterrorism responsibilities,” the director said.

THE AUTOBAHN (SPEED READ)

— The airport shutdowns on the West Coast last week were caused by a U-2 spy plane. Seriously. NBC News: http://nbcnews.to/1oi2YL9

— Flight from Philadelphia turns back after severe turbulence injures at least six people on Sunday. CBS Philly: http://cbsloc.al/Q4Jfm6 (h/t Bob King)

THE COUNTDOWN: MAP-21 expires and DOT funding runs out in 149 days. FAA policy is up in 514 days. The mid-term elections are in 183 days and the 2016 presidential election is in 918 days.

CABOOSE — Railroad desk jockey: Being a railroader isn’t always as glamorous and idyllic as some might think — this 1943 shot of a dispatcher for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad looks pretty cool, but it’s not quite the same as being on a moving train (not that that was easy work, but at least you were outdoors). Shorpy: http://bit.ly/RjthoV

** Founded in 1970, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is devoted to one primary purpose: fostering and advancing the general welfare, safety, interests, and activities of general aviation. This includes promoting a better understanding of general aviation manufacturing and the important role it plays in creating good jobs and economic opportunity, as well as supporting educational and charitable activities in communities around the globe.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with an office in Brussels, Belgium, and representation in Beijing, China, and Abu Dhabi, UAE, GAMA advocates on critical regulatory and policy issues for its more than 85 members to government leaders and agencies throughout the world. These issues include safety regulations and standards, market access, development of aviation infrastructure, tax policy, environmental policy, and aviation security. GAMA also works with other industry associations and companies worldwide to promote the safety and economic growth of general aviation. www.gama.aero. **